6 Ways to Combat Doubt and Uncertainty

Posted by Dee Harris on Sep 16, 2017

6 Ways to Combat Doubt and Uncertainty

You know it all too well: that sinking feeling that you’re not good enough, that you don’t have what it takes to succeed, or that you won’t be able to navigate this next chapter. Even for the most confident people in the world, there are inevitable times when doubt and uncertainty creep in and seem to take over your mind, body, and spirit.

This negative way of thinking can result from both external and internal forces. Perhaps you got passed up for a promotion or your group of “friends” didn’t invite you to a weekend getaway they shared on social media. Maybe you’re watching the state of the world change in ways that bring up fear for what’s next. It might be deeper than that, too. Perhaps you’ve held a life-long belief about yourself that you are stupid, ugly, or a bad person—undeserving of love or respect.

Regardless of how it shows up, doubt and uncertainty can be debilitating if not addressed head-on and swiftly. It can lead to additional feelings of:

•Fear

•Anger

•Sadness

•Loneliness

Don’t let negativity win. Here are five ways to combat doubt and uncertainty so that you can claim a life of strength and resiliency.

Ground Yourself in Reality

Thoughts that lead to self-doubt and uncertainty are most likely not rooted in the reality of where you actually are. Thoughts like that come from places of insecurity, stories, and lies, not honoring who you are and how far you’ve come. In the moment though, it can be difficult to remember what is the truth.

Prepare for those moments by creating a Self I.D. Card that can remind you of your true identity and core competencies. Take a 3x5 index card and complete the follow sentences:

My name is... I grew up in... I am gifted at... I am loved by... I am uniquely me and have nothing to fear.

You can refer to your I.D. card anytime you feel doubt and uncertainty creep in.

Recognize That You’re Not Alone

Trust in the fact that you are not the first person to experience doubt and uncertainty, and that you will certainly not be the last. Everyone experiences feelings of uncertainty and fear of “not being good enough” at times—even the most successful people in the world. The simple fact of knowing that you are not alone can help those feelings dissipate.

Breathe

Take a moment to step back and breathe. Calm your nerves by recognizing that this is a temporary state of being. The anxiety you feel cannot harm you, and you are not destined to feel confused, bewildered, and insecure for the rest of your life.

Practicing pranayama (http://www.chopra.com/articles/breathing-for-life-the-mind-body-healing- benefits-of-pranayama#sm.0001ccqvs16rfdrqrcr1gymoarf7p)—deep, mindful breathing—can help center your being and has been proven to reduce anxiety and depression and decrease feelings of stress and overwhelm. You can find instructions for simple breathing techniques here (http://www.chopra.com/articles/breathing-for-life-the-mind-body-healing-benefits-of- pranayama#sm.0001ccqvs16rfdrqrcr1gymoarf7p).

Write Down Your Doubts

Instead of letting thoughts of uncertainty swirl around in your head and hijack your mind, take time to write down each one of your doubts on a small slip of paper. Then, read each one aloud and ask yourself if that doubt serves you. If the answer is no, crumple up the piece of paper and throw it into the recycle bin or burn it (safely, of course). In the off chance that the answer is yes, spend time journaling about why you think that doubt serves you.

This practice can also be done in the presence of a trusted loved one if you need extra support. They can give you the honest truth and help you ground your self-judgments in reality.

Access Your Confidence

The truth is, you have inner confidence, whether it seems obvious right now or not. Somewhere deep inside is the knowledge that you are worth it and that you have immense value just by being you. In times of doubt, learn how to channel the confidence that’s already inside you. This is a powerful practice that may not come naturally, especially if you’re prone to negative self-talk.

One way to do this is by practicing power poses, which have been proven to boost your levels of confidence. This approach was made famous by social psychologist Amy Cuddy in her TED Talk (https://www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_shapes_who_you_are) from 2012. While it might sound strange—and feel even stranger doing it—standing in a position that exudes confidence can affect the testosterone and cortisol levels in your brain, which may impact your chances for success. Try this:

Next time you’re feeling a little lost, find a quiet space and strike this wonder woman pose for about 90 seconds. Take note of how you feel before and after practicing the pose.

Be Vulnerable

While finding the inner strength to battle doubt and uncertainty is necessary to build a personal sense of resiliency, no one is meant to journey through hard times alone. There is power in surrounding yourself with people who will love and support you, even when you don’t have a strong sense of who you are or what’s happening around you.

Being vulnerable with others during times like these can build trust, deepen connection, and make way for acceptance. Opening up about the confusion, doubt, and second guessing helps release the power of those negative beliefs. By speaking them out loud, they cannot fester in the shadows.

And the beauty is, by sharing in your weakness, you invite others to look at themselves in a new way also. They may open up in the ways they didn’t realize they needed to.

We all have moments of self-doubt, but it’s important to remember there's always hope. Join Oprah and Deepak for our newest, no-cost 21-Day Meditation Experience, Hope in Uncertain Times. Learn More (https://chopracentermeditation.com/experience).

DEE:

My self-doubt and uncertainty really started to escalate and rear its ugly head in the 80’s and 90’s. No. Let me take that back. My self-doubt and uncertainty came from a lifetime of experiences where I constantly compared myself to everyone. Why couldn’t I be smarter, prettier, richer, white? My unique gifts and talents were affirmed by my mom, but it just never reached my heart. I was a thinker, a rationalizer, an intellect. I was a people-pleaser, a follower, and I lived in self-doubt.

Ok. Back to the 80’s and 90’s. It must have been those decades when my alcoholism and drug use became commonplace. I used them to feel like I fit in. I used them to perform. Then I used them because I had to. I let the drugs go as they were more expensive and difficult to acquire. But I crossed the line somewhere in that time period where all I could think about was the next drink. Life got in the way of my drinking. So during that time in my life I definitely allowed fear, anger, sadness and loneliness to take over my life. And all that negativity stayed fed and strengthened by more alcohol. My addiction to alcohol grew stronger by the day until one day I didn’t come to like I did everyday when the kids came home from school. That’s when I usually pulled myself together to get ready for working the swing shift.

That miraculous day saved my life. My physical life. And gave me a spiritual life beyond my wildest dreams! I got to learn about me. I was in a recovery center for 21+ days where my only focus was ME (not that the previous 48 years of my life were about YOU)! And not in that selfish, self-absorbed, destructive way. It was awesome! I was like a sponge wanting more, more, more. Teach me more. Show me more. Feed me more.

Today I “get to” honor who I really am. I am a woman. I am of Chinese descent. I am an alcoholic. I am gratefully in recovery. I “get to” feel comfortable in my own skin. I even “get to” love myself. Don’t think that would have ever happened in my lifetime had it not been for AA. And I don’t have to think anymore. I can live from my heart. I can turn everything over to a Power Greater Than Myself. I am free!!!

Alcoholics Anonymous has given me so many gifts. Not just sobriety, but the comfort of fellowship. Being able to comfortably ask for help. Been grateful to offer help. Giving away what was so freely given to me.

And during this time in my recovery I have learned about self-care. Staying in the moment for me is key. Yes, breathe. Witness, feel, hear, see everything that is happening around me right here and now. Don’t miss a beat…of my heart…which keeps me alive with a purpose with or without my brain focus.

So love yourself for who and what you are. We all have our unique gifts. Share them with the world. Stay in the moment. Live a positive and hopeful life.

Aloha, Dee

For those interested in Gifts with a Message of Hope and Inspiration, please visit my website at www.DeesignsByHarris.com. Mahalo and have a great day!